Page 29 of Mr. Fixer Upper
Paige wanted to look away. It was too raw, too personal. But it was also something that would make someone care and care deeply. She scrawled a note on her pad to identify pediatric cancer charities to highlight on the episode and blog.
Tony swiped the back of his hand under his eye, and Paige heard Felicia sniffle.
“Keep it together, guys,” Paige murmured into her headset as she fished a tissue out of the box she kept on hand for interviews and blew her nose.
A movement off to the side caught her eye and she spotted Andy, arms crossed with one hand covering his mouth. He stood next to Louis who was pointing his camera in her direction. “They wanted more behind-the-scenes,” Andy’s voice said in her ear. “Wrap it up, and we’ll do a quick one-on-one with you, and then we can move on.”
Damn it. She was not interested or willing to be part of the story, Paige wanted to rail at Andy. The focus should be on Malia, not cooking up some fake behind-the-scenes romance for ratings.
And, of course, they were going to get her on camera when her own eyes were glassy with unshed tears and the fresh pain of watching a hopeful six-year-old consider her own mortality.
Paige ended the interview on a high note, letting Malia talk about the pink bedroom Cat promised her and what she thought of being on TV. Sweet answers that would remind viewers that Malia could be any six-year-old from any family.
It was the last they were needed on camera, and Paige was surprised to find the production and construction crews as well as Gannon and Cat lined up to say their goodbyes. Seeing the little girl pull Gannon down for a hug didn’t do anything to calm Paige’s emotional state. Wouldn’t the network love it if she bawled her way through her first interview? That thought was enough to have her tightening the reins on her emotions.
“Let’s get this over with,” she growled at Andy and flopped down on the stool.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Catalina King was generally a sane, stable human being. Sure, sometimes she was flighty and irresponsible. But between managing her or Gannon into a productive, helpful mood, Paige would take Cat every damn time.
However, on the birthday Cat shared with her brother, the tables turned, andshebecame the unmanageable one. The whole crew took the opportunity to call it a night a little early on set and hit whatever hole-in-the-wall bar chosen by the network’s location manager who scouted families and towns prior to shooting. Massive quantities of beer, tequila, and nachos were consumed. It was a good mid-season break, provided no one got too shit-faced or too hung-over, which Cat always did.
Paige never let loose like the rest of them. She considered herself to be Cat’s unofficial babysitter, and knowing that his sister was looked after, Gannon never went. Probably because Cat might use the drunken binge to pick up guys. And, while Cat enjoyed the birthday spectacle, Gannon preferred to celebrate in private… alone.
“You need to try this on,” Cat said, thrusting a filmy white button down shirt into Paige’s hand. They’d just wrapped up an offset shoot involving Cat shopping for the perfect princess bedding for Malia and, with everything under control on the set, hit a department store for some impromptu shopping.
“What would I wear this with?” Paige asked, wrinkling her nose.
“Black bra underneath, your cutie cute denim shorts that show off your perfect legs, and those brown leather sandals. Guys love it when things wrap up girls’ legs,” Cat insisted knowledgeably.
“You’re not trying to get me laid, are you?” Paige asked with suspicion, holding the shirt up in front of her.
“And what exactly is wrong with that?” Cat countered.
Paige thought about it a beat. It had been a longer-than-usual dry spell. But she wasn’t into the whole one- or two-night stand on the road thing. It was just awkward, weird.
Before she could craft her answer, Cat continued. “Look, this isn’t necessarily about sex. You’re nearing end-of-season exhaustion already and we’re only halfway through filming. I just want you to have a night off where you can slap on some makeup and a smile and enjoy yourself. Is that too much to ask?”
Paige sighed mightily. “No, I suppose not.”
“Good. Now bring the shirt, we’ve got bras to shop for.”
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Cat and her design sensibilities were right as usual, Paige thought, studying herself from the waist up in her hotel room’s bathroom mirror. She’d done a half tuck with the button down that she wore over the fancy bralette that had caught her eye with its lace back. Cat had talked her into a chunky belt and a layered necklace with a crescent moon and stars.
Paige had put some effort into her hair, giving some lift and texture to her short bob with strategic messy waves. She kept her makeup simple but pretty, and damn if she didn’t feel good about her reflection. Maybe, just maybe, with #NapsWithGannon trending and her first on camera one-on-ones behind her, things would start looking up.
Paige gave her hair a final fluff with her fingers and grabbed her bag. Checking that her phone was charged, she stuffed her hotel key in her back pocket and headed for Cat’s room.
Shaney’s Pub was exactly the kind of local watering hole that the crew favored. It had a menu full of deep fried delicacies and forty beers on tap. And it was packed.
Cat’s entrance brought with it the usual stir in the crowd, but as they most often found, locals of smaller towns were more respectful of her time and space. This suburb of Portland was no different. After a handful of polite autograph requests, everyone settled back into their Friday night routine.
Paige perched at a high-top table in the bar with the members of her team rotating in and out of the other seat.It was fun to see everyone cut a little loose, she thought, nursing her beer. And it said a lot about them that even mid-season they still chose to spend their down time together.
Felicia, in jeans and Steely Dan t-shirt, plunked down across from Paige and fished a cheese stick off of the appetizer plate. “So, how’s it feel to be talent?” she asked, biting into the melted cheese.
